Following his early years as a U.S. Naval officer in nuclear engineering, Williams returned home to St. Louis in 1978 and went to work at Lectro with his father, Ralph Williams, who co-founded the company in 1960. They built and improved the Lectro-Treat line of plasma surface treatment systems for plastics.

Lee Williams is survived by his wife, Kim Williams, son Brian, daughter Brandy and two granddaughters. He also is survived by his mother, Ruth Williams, who at age 92 attended the recent NPE2012 in Orlando, Fla.

Lectro Engineering officials say the company will continue to give uninterrupted service and equipment sales, with Greg Wood is president and Rick Affolter as vice president of operations.